03 Oct 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Exercise Sampriti
2. PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration
3. Umbrella Scheme ‘SHREYAS’

1. Exercise Sampriti

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: Exercise Sampriti

Context:

Exercise Sampriti XI (11th edition) began on 3 Oct in Umroi, Meghalaya. 

Exercise Sampriti XI:

• Sampriti is the annual bilateral military exercise conducted between India and Bangladesh and hosted alternatively by both countries.
• The exercise signifies strong bilateral defence cooperation initiatives between India and Bangladesh.
• The first edition was held in Jorhat, Assam in 2009.
• The 2023 edition scheduled for 14 days, will engage approximately 350 personnel from both sides. 
• The exercise underscores the importance of enhancing interoperability between the two armies, sharing tactical drills, and promoting best practices.
• Exercise Sampriti promises to further enhance defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh, fostering deeper bilateral relations, cultural understanding, and mutual benefits from shared experiences in Sub Conventional Operations.

Read more about Ex Sampriti in the linked article.

2. PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity & Governance

Prelims: PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration

Context:

Two-day Regional Conference in Jaipur on ‘Good Governance’ being convened on 4th-5th October 2023 will present the 2022 Award Winners under the Scheme PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.

About the PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration:

• This award scheme was initiated in 2006 to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by Districts/Organizations of the Central and State Governments.
• The Scheme was restructured in 2014 to recognize the performance of District Collectors in Priority Programmes, Innovations and Aspirational Districts and was further restructured in 2020 to recognize the performance of District Collectors towards the economic development of the District.
• For the year 2020, the scope of the awards has been expanded to identify areas of overall outcome-oriented performance in the districts across sectors.

3. Umbrella Scheme ‘SHREYAS’

Syllabus: GS-2, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population

Prelims: Umbrella Scheme ‘SHREYAS’

About Umbrella Scheme ‘SHREYAS’:

• SHREYAS comprises 4 central sector sub-schemes namely:
  • Top Class Education for SCs
    • The scheme aims at recognizing and promoting quality education amongst students belonging to the SC category by providing full financial support. 
    • This entails a scholarship for studies after the 12th standard.
    • Family income to be under Rs 8 lakh per annum for eligibility.
  • Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs
    • Provides coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged SC and OBC candidates to enable them to appear in competitive and entrance examinations for obtaining appropriate jobs in the Public/Private Sector as well as for securing admission in reputed technical and professional higher education institutions. 
    • 3500 slots allotted per annum.
    • Family income to be under Rs 8 lakh per annum for eligibility.
    • SC:OBC student ratio – 70:30 
    • 30% of slots are reserved for females in each category. 
  • National Overseas Scheme for SCs
    • Financial assistance is provided to the selected students from SCs (115 slots); De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (6 slots); landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisan categories (4 slots), for pursuing masters and Ph.D. level courses abroad.
    • Eligibility criteria: Family income under Rs 8 lakh/year, acquired more than 60% marks in the qualifying examination, is below 35 years of age and has secured admission in top 500 QS ranking foreign institutes/universities.
  • National Fellowship for SCs
    • Fellowship is provided to Scheduled Castes students for pursuing higher education leading to M.Phil/PhD degrees in Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences in Indian Universities/Institutions/Colleges recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC).

Read the previous PIB articles here.